Shockproof plumbing fixture



Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to plumbing fixtures, and more particularly to a means for coupling pipes together so that these pipes will be insulated electrically both as to the rigid connecting members and the fluid flowing through the connection, when this fluid is of an electrically conductive character, the device being particularly designed for use with water pipes.

Many types of connections have been developed for insulating one pipe from another but this invention is not primarily concerned with the mere rigid connection of a pair of pipes together so that the same are insulated, but rather to the insulation of the outflowing stream of fluid from the inflowing stream.

A primary object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for insulating such devices as bath tubs, basins and the like from the pipes leading thereto, thus eliminating the danger of electrical shock to persons using these devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide means which can be used in a somewhat similar manner as applied to fire hoses, gas lines and other devices which may become charged with electricity inadvertently but during the ordinary use thereof.

In brief, this invention comprises the provision of a hollow member of a material having a high dielectric strength as well as being capable of resisting considerable mechanical stresses, connecting an inlet and an outlet for the conductive fluid to each end of this hollow member, placing a non-conductive liquid of a different specific gravity in the hollow member, and arranging the levels of the inlets, outlets and the level of the non-conductive liquid in the hollow member so that the non-conductive fluid will not be expelled from the hollow member and the conductive fluid will disperse or atomize as it passes through the non-conductive fluid, and it is preferred that a spray nozzle or like device be inserted in the inlet portion of the device to assist this dispersion. Extensive tests have shown that this device is completely practical.

With the above objects and considerations in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangements of elements and portions as will be described hereinafter in the specification in greater detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of this device, partly in elevation and partly in section, the non-conductive fluid being greater in specific gravity than the conductive fluid which is to be passed through the device; and

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified form of this invention in which a non-conductive fluid 2 of a specific gravity less than that of the conductive fluid is used.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the figures in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, this invention includes a hollow non-conductive member ID, represented as of cylindrical form and disposed in upright position. The member ID is provided with a cap fitting l2 at each end, these cap fittings being ordinarily screwed onto suitably threaded ends of the member I!) and suitable gaskets l3 may be inserted between the ends of the member [0 and the caps l2. An inlet, generally indicated by the numeral I4, is positioned so that its effective level is that part thereof at l6, and is connected to the cap l2 at the lower end of the hollow member Ill. The level mentioned above should be at least as high as the level I8 of a non-conductive fluid 18, which in this embodiment of the invention is of a specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of a conductive fluid 20 which is to be conducted through the device. The positioning of the effective inlet prevents back flow of the non-conductive fluid [8. The inlet l4 and the outlet, generally indicated at 22, may each be constructed of pipes with elbows, as illustrated, or as simple goose necks or the like the important feature being that, in this embodiment of the invention, the inlet is connected to the bottom of the member I0 and the outlet 22 is at the top thereof.

An atomizer is operatively inserted in the inlet portion of the device, the drawing showing this atomizer as a spray nozzle 24 mounted internally on the cap [2 on the lower end of the member ID and the conductor fluid 2!] is dispersed or atomized into particles 20' which are forced upwardly by the action of a'heavier non-conductor fluid l8.

In the device illustrated in Figure 2, this structure is similar except that the non-conductor fluid 26 is of a lesser specific gravity than the specific gravity of the conductor fluid 20 to be passed through the device, and the inlet 28 is at the top of the hollow member l0, while the outlet 30 is connected at the bottom with its effective level at 32.

This positioning of the inlet and outlet, particularly the latter, will obviously prevent the escape of the non-conductor fluid 26, provided the flow of the conductor fluid 20 is not greater than the capacity of the device. Suitable valve means, indicated at 34 and 36 may be incorporated with the inlet and outlet portions of each of these embodiments of the invention.

It should be carefully noted that the relative specific gravities, volumes of non-conductor fluids and heights of the columns thereof, will directly afiect the capacity of the device. It has been found that this device has a surprisingly high capacity, that is, that the rate of flow of the conductor fluid may be quite large provided that the quantity and height of thecolumn of nonconductor fluid is appropriate. In many installations, the provision of valves 34 and 36 may, be dictated, while in other installations, these. valves may be added only at the discretion of the: user of the device, especially whenthe rate'of n flow of the conductor fluid is at all times likely to besmall.

The operation of this inventibn willbe clearlyunderstood from a consideration of the foregoing. description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the re; citation of objects detailed above Eurther, de scription would, therefore, appear to be unnec- H, .1 ,1 Obviously the drawing and the foregoing de scriptionis not intended to -b e limiting as to the ,2

specific form of elements to be employed in the practicing of this invention, considerablev .vari ation inthe character of these elementsbeingwell, Within the spirit or this invention. Qne imp or tantfeature relating to the proportionmentof the 5 inlet pipe and the cylinder H1 should, however... be carefully noted. ..When there is no flow.,from the inlet M, the high specific gravity fluid will. tendto back flowthrough the nozzle 24 into ,the

inlet M till an equilibrium is reached. There-,,;,

fore, the inlet 14 must be proportionally as well, as positionally related to thecylinderlflto pre: vent the lever [8 'from falling below. the. top 'of.. the 'nozzle ,24, in order that the insulative .ef:-..-

ficiency of the device may b maintained under.

no-flow conditions. A similar relationship must be maintained between the inlet 28 and the cylinder 10. v

, While the term fluid has been used in this speci-., fication, it will be understood that theinvention isiconceived as applicable for use with liquids, as indicated in the drawing, and combinations .of liquids and gases such as. water and air, alllwiths. out material alteration in the structural features of this invention. H

Accordingly, limitation of thisinvention should. be made only as determined by 'a proper.inter-.. pretation of the terms used in the subjoined claims. v

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A shockproof plumbing fixturecomprising a hollow member of non-conductive material. for. connection between a pair Oftubes, a .n0n'-con-,. ductive fluid in said member and of a specific. gravity different from that of. a conductive fluid tobe passed through said tubes, and means. to prevent escape of the non-conductive fiuld'when a. conductive fluid immiscible with the non-conductive fluid is passed through the member from one so tube to the other tube. 2. A shockproof plumbing fixture comprising all hollow member of non-conductive material for.

connection between a pair of tubes, a non-conductive fluid in said member and of a specific gravity-' 5 diflerent from that of a .conductivefluid to be passed through said tubes, and a means .to pre-' vent escape of the non-conductive fluid when a conductive fluid immiscible with..the non-conductive fluid is passed through the member from 7 one tube to the other tube, said non-conductive fluid occupying only a portion of said member.

3. A shockproof plumbing fixture comprising a hollow member of non-conductive material, a goose neck tube connected to one end of said member, anon-conductive fluid in'said memher and of a specific gravity different from that of a conductive fluid to be passed through said tubes, said non-conductive fluid occupying only a, portion of said member, said gooseneck tube comprising an inlet for the conductive fluid at an effective level substantially the same as the level otthe non-conductive fluid in the member to prevent escape of the non-conductive fluid.

4.. A. shockproof plumbing fixture comprising a hollow member of non-conductive material, a goosenecl; tube connected toeach end of the member, anon-conductive'fluid in said member and of a specific gravity-different from that of a conductive fluid to be passedthrough said tubes, said non-conductive fluid occupying only a portion of O member, and said tubes comprising an inlet and an outlet for theconductive fluid at substantially the same effective level as the level 0f said non-conductive fluid. l

5..A- shockproof plumbing fixture comprising a hollow member of non-conductive material, a pair. of gooseneck tubes each having one end secured to said member, a non-conductive fluid partially filling said member and of a specific gravity different from that of a conductive fluid to be passed through said tubes, said member being an elongated vertically disposed hollow cylinder, the.

other ends of said tubes comprising an inlet and an outlet for the conductive fluid at an effective level substantially the same as the level of one endofthe non-conductive fluid column.

6. A fixture accordingto claim 4 and wherein said tubes are connected to the top and bottom of said member. 1

7. A shockproof plumbing fixture comprising a hollow member of non-conductive material {or connection between a pair of tubes, a non-conductive fluid in said member and of a specific gravity different from that of a conductive fluid to be passed through said tubes, means to prevent escape .of the non-conductive fluid when a conductive fluid immiscible with the non-conductive fluid is passed through the member from one tube to,the other tube, andmeans to atomize said conductive fluid on entrance thereof into said member. a I

8. A method ofelectrically insulating one tube from another tube and conductive fluid carried thereby, comprising connecting a hollow non-com ductorbetween said tubes, and partially filling saidsaid hollow conductor. with a non-conductive fiuid,' ;and;supporting the hollow non-conductor so thatthe effective level of the inlet and outlet prevents the escape of said non-conductive fluid when..said conductive fluid is passed through the tubes and hollow non-conductor.

JULIAN B. cRABBu.

I REFERENCES CITED l he iollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s ra rEs PATENTS Number Name Date 419,962 Lane Jan. 21, 1890 "1,975,634 Dijkster-huis d. Oct. 2, 1934 2,359,239 Newton Sept. 26, 1944 

